In this connection, we read at MendoNews about the Spy Rock Petroglyph Boulder in northern California as follows regarding the importance of such megalithic petroglyph boulders to mark tribal boundaries in Native America:
"In aboriginal California, territorial boundaries and natural resources might have been marked for various reasons. It is a habit that we continue even today. Writing about California Indians in the early 1870s, Stephen Powers noted that ". . . the boundaries of all tribes are marked out with the greatest precision, being defined by certain creeks, canyons, boulders, conspicuous trees, springs, etc., each of which has its individual name" (Heizer and Elsasser 1980:204). The use of boulders as markers is recorded in the ethnography of several northern and southern California Indian tribes. Such markers were used by the Luiseiio of southern California (Minor 1975:15). Songs in the migration legends of these people mention the travels of their ancestors and the landmarks left by them....Accordingly, it is undisputed that megaliths served as territorial landmarks. That recognition is not our discovery.
In northern California, territory boundary markers are often thought of as "cornerstones."
The Spyrock Road petroglyph boulder (MEN-1912) is still used by the Cahto as a cornerstone marking their interior boundary (Foster 1983:51). The Bell Springs petroglyph boulder (MEN-433) probably represents a similar site. Both boulders are covered with petroglyphs, including numerous cupules. Among the Pomo, such cornerstones are thought of as “mountain baby rocks” (Peri et al. 1978:204)...."
What we claim in addition -- as our principle hypothesis -- is that these territorial landmarks were placed in Native America via land survey techniques guided by the stars, a technology which, frankly, should have been expected by the archaeological community. How otherwise could ancient land survey have been conducted, if not by the stars?
Indeed, as for the above mentioned "baby rocks", as we shall see in coming postings, the Pomo "baby rocks" and the many signs relating to fertility in the region relate to what we presume to be the origin of the name of Oregon Country (the name origin of Oregon is otherwise unknown), which marked Virgo in the ancient land survey of Native America by astronomy.
Our next posting looks at the Blythe Intaglios in California on the Colorado River, which builds a natural border even today between California and Arizona.
THIS POSTING IS Posting Number 110 of
The Great Mound, Petroglyph and Painted Rock Art Journey of Native America
Petroglyph Boulders viz. Petroglyphic Megaliths as Former Tribal Boundaries in Native America